The government has tentatively begun a review of the "right to buy" scheme for council house tenants, one of Margaret Thatcher's flagship policies. The move is thought to be a policy concession to appease Liberal Democrats, who believe "right to buy" removes thousands of homes from circulation. Expected cuts to the affordable housing budget could put further pressure on the stock available, it is argued, swelling the number of people on council house waiting lists. We have asked readers to share their experience of this policy as part of our people's panel series (you can read our previous panels here).

Because of the personal nature of the debate, moderation will be strict.

Lisa M - on Cif as Wotever

guardian.co.uk

My father, like my mother, was brought up in the slum tenements of Glasgow. His widowed mother struggled to pay the factor every week and feed three children. His brother died of tuberculosis; not unusual in such damp conditions. He married my mother in the 60s, and they moved into the new council estate. For the first time they had a garden, regular maintenance to the property and a warm dry house. The rent was and affordable rent and jobs were plentiful. He was eternally grateful to the Labour movement for the improvement in living conditions for the ordinary working man.

As the family grew, we got bigger council houses through mutual exchanges and an occasional financial inducement. By the time me and my siblings were moving out, my parents had a semi-detached four-bedroom council house, with a half-acre garden and parking for several cars.

In the late 80s, my father was nearing retirement. He had always been a union leader. He was offered the Thatcher bribe to buy his council home. He was entitled to the maximum reduction and bought the house for £10,000. It is now worth £200,000. Today in the same area of Glasgow, there are thousands of homeless on the council waiting list. Most are living in the same private slum conditions my father escaped. He knew buying the council house was wrong and against his principles, but he did it. I know it's wrong and against my left wing principles, but I don't suppose I'll refuse my share of the house's value when my parents leave it to us. What can you say?

Sue Davis - on Cif as suedavies1

guardian.co.uk

I was eligible to buy my council house in the mid-80s, but chose not to. The road to council housing was hard. I had left a violent and alcoholic husband and moved to my mother's two-bedroom flat in a small seaside town with my two children, then aged four and eight months.

I worked, because waiting until the baby was five would make my re-entry into the job market difficult. I was lucky to have my mother around, and I got some help with the nursery costs. But life with two toddlers in a small apartment in a building occupied by elderly people was difficult, so I tried to find alternative rented accommodation. This was impossible because landlords could, and did, stipulate "no children".

I went on the council waiting list. At the end of winter, my landlady threw me out of my flat – a holiday let – and the council promised me hostel accommodation with other "unmarried mothers". I pointed out that I was claiming no benefits and working full time and that it would be impossible to continue to work if I lived in a hostel. After a huge amount of persistence they found me a home on an estate where there were at least 20 empty homes at the time.

After three years I was able to get a mortgage and with financial help from a housing association moved into a new home. I could have purchased my council home cheaply under the new rules, but because of the trauma I had suffered trying to get accommodation for us initially, I felt that council accommodation should be for those who really need it.

Graham Ord - on Cif as GrahamOrd

guardian.co.uk

Right to buy was clearly meant to encourage home ownership and and improve neighbourhoods through privatisation. In my experience as a property lawyer, I do not see a problem offering ownership to tenants at market value, but I do have a problem with offering (taxpayers') property at massive financial discounts.

Social housing is supposed to be for those in need. I fail to see how someone in need of social housing can raise funds to buy a house from the council even where the price is as low as 30% of its value. Relatives are often are the real beneficiaries of the scheme.

Here is an example, typical of those I witness: granny (say, 75 years old) and grandson visit their solicitor together. Granny advises their solicitor that she qualifies to buy her home from the council at a 70% discount of the open market value – £100,000. Grandson is happy to give granny a £30,000 loan to buy the house. She acquires the house worth £100,000 for £30,000, and makes a will leaving the house to her grandson. Five years later, granny dies and grandson takes the 70% uplift in profit.

Apart from the above example, I find it difficult to understand why any tenant receiving free refurbishments of their council home would want to buy a property that they are then going to have to maintain at further expense. Too much faith appears to have been placed on the British desire for home ownership. It just doesn't make economic sense for the tenant or the government.